BART labor talks snag on new glitch

Updated 8:04 am, Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Since BART started running again after a strike in October, the transit agency has suffered contract snafus with its unions.

Since BART started running again after a strike in October, the transit agency has suffered contract snafus with its unions.

Photo: Ben Margot, AP

Image 2 of 42

Isaac Santos was trying to get to school in Berkeley from the West Oakland station but didn't know that BART service had been suspended by striking workers. Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement, in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013. less

Isaac Santos was trying to get to school in Berkeley from the West Oakland station but didn't know that BART service had been suspended by striking workers. Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 3 of 42

Bay Area Transit workers, including station agent Michelle Collins, center, and train operator Will Adams, right, went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement, in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013. less

Bay Area Transit workers, including station agent Michelle Collins, center, and train operator Will Adams, right, went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 4 of 42

Commuters wait on a bus headed for San Francisco from the West Oakland BART Station as Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement, in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013. less

Commuters wait on a bus headed for San Francisco from the West Oakland BART Station as Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 5 of 42

The West Oakland Station is seen shuttered as Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement, in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013. less

The West Oakland Station is seen shuttered as Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 6 of 42

Casual carpoolers catch a ride into San Francisco early Friday morning at the Hudson St. and Claremont Ave. pick up point in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

Casual carpoolers catch a ride into San Francisco early Friday morning at the Hudson St. and Claremont Ave. pick up point in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 7 of 42

Traffic backs up at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza as commuters make their way into San Francisco on the first day of the (Bay Area Rapid Transit) BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, California. For the second time this year, BART workers have gone on strike after contract negotiations between BART management and the transit agency's two largest unions fell apart on Thursday afternoon. Management and unions agreed on the financial specifics of the contract but differed on workplace safety rules. less

Traffic backs up at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza as commuters make their way into San Francisco on the first day of the (Bay Area Rapid Transit) BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, ... more

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Image 8 of 42

Tabi Musselwhite and Nate Singer avoid the morning commute and work at Spasso Coffee House in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

Tabi Musselwhite and Nate Singer avoid the morning commute and work at Spasso Coffee House in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Passengers line up on 20th St. to board a Transbay AC Transit buss heading to San Francisco from downtown Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Passengers line up on 20th St. to board a Transbay AC Transit buss heading to San Francisco from downtown Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 10 of 42

Kareem Hill with the group, By Any Means Necessary shows support for unions as he joins a picket line in front of the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

Kareem Hill with the group, By Any Means Necessary shows support for unions as he joins a picket line in front of the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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BART Project Manager John Gee, center, hands out tickets and information to passengers boarding transbay busses at the West oakland station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

BART Project Manager John Gee, center, hands out tickets and information to passengers boarding transbay busses at the West oakland station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 12 of 42

A BART Strike Schedule is seen posted as passengers head towards a San Francisco bound ferry at the Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

A BART Strike Schedule is seen posted as passengers head towards a San Francisco bound ferry at the Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 13 of 42

Passengers heading to the Ferry Building in San Francisco board a Blue and Gold fleet boat at the Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Passengers heading to the Ferry Building in San Francisco board a Blue and Gold fleet boat at the Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 14 of 42

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo: Nicole Fruge, The Chronicle

Image 15 of 42

Doors are locked during the strike at the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

Doors are locked during the strike at the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 16 of 42

Anthony Van, left, and Ritthy Hang line up with other passengers as they wait to board a Transbay AC Transit buss heading to San Francisco from the West Oakland BART Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Anthony Van, left, and Ritthy Hang line up with other passengers as they wait to board a Transbay AC Transit buss heading to San Francisco from the West Oakland BART Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 17 of 42

Passengers line up on 20th St. to board Transbay AC Transit busses heading to San Francisco from downtown Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Passengers line up on 20th St. to board Transbay AC Transit busses heading to San Francisco from downtown Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 18 of 42

Bay Area Rapid Transit workers carry signs as they picket in front of the Lake Merritt BART station on the first day of the BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, California. For the second time this year, BART workers have gone on strike after contract negotiations between BART management and the transit agency's two largest unions fell apart on Thursday afternoon. Management and unions agreed on the financial specifics of the contract but differed on workplace safety rules. less

Bay Area Rapid Transit workers carry signs as they picket in front of the Lake Merritt BART station on the first day of the BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, California. For the second time this ... more

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Image 19 of 42

Reah DeCaro of Oakland waits to put her bike on a Transbay AC Transit buss as she heads to San Francisco from downtown Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Reah DeCaro of Oakland waits to put her bike on a Transbay AC Transit buss as she heads to San Francisco from downtown Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 20 of 42

An AC Transit bus passes a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station on the first day of the BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, California. For the second time this year, BART workers have gone on strike after contract negotiations between BART management and the transit agency's two largest unions fell apart on Thursday afternoon. Management and unions agreed on the financial specifics of the contract but differed on workplace safety rules. less

An AC Transit bus passes a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station on the first day of the BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, California. For the second time this year, BART workers have gone on ... more

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Image 21 of 42

Turnstiles sit idle behind closed gates at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Turnstiles sit idle behind closed gates at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 22 of 42

The moon sets as traffic backs up at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza while commuters make their way into San Francisco on the first day of the (Bay Area Rapid Transit) BART strike on October 18, 2013 in Oakland, California. For the second time this year, BART workers have gone on strike after contract negotiations between BART management and the transit agency's two largest unions fell apart on Thursday afternoon. Management and unions agreed on the financial specifics of the contract but differed on workplace safety rules. less

The moon sets as traffic backs up at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza while commuters make their way into San Francisco on the first day of the (Bay Area Rapid Transit) BART strike on October 18, ... more

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Image 23 of 42

Bay Area Transit workers, including train operator Will Adams, center, went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement, in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013. less

Bay Area Transit workers, including train operator Will Adams, center, went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 24 of 42

Ron Carnegis, a longshoreman at the Port of Oakland, talks with commuters as he shows his support for the striking workers at the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Ron Carnegis, a longshoreman at the Port of Oakland, talks with commuters as he shows his support for the striking workers at the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 25 of 42

BART Department Manager of Customer Access Bob Franklin, right, checks his phone as passengers board a San Francisco bound bus at the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement. less

BART Department Manager of Customer Access Bob Franklin, right, checks his phone as passengers board a San Francisco bound bus at the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 26 of 42

Roberto Lu-Flores, left, who said he was leaving extra early because of the strike, boards a bus headed for San Francisco from the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Roberto Lu-Flores, left, who said he was leaving extra early because of the strike, boards a bus headed for San Francisco from the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 27 of 42

Commuters wait on a bus headed for San Francisco from the West Oakland BART Station as Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021 failed to reach a contract agreement, in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013. less

Commuters wait on a bus headed for San Francisco from the West Oakland BART Station as Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 28 of 42

Highway 880 is packed with commuters on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. Commuters in the San Francisco Bay Area got up before dawn on Friday and endured heavy traffic on roadways, as workers for the region's largest transit system walked off the job for the second time in four months. less

Highway 880 is packed with commuters on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. Commuters in the San Francisco Bay Area got up before dawn on Friday and endured heavy traffic on roadways, as workers for the ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

Image 29 of 42

Passengers heading to the Ferry Building in San Francisco pay their fare as they board a Blue and Gold fleet boat at the Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

Passengers heading to the Ferry Building in San Francisco pay their fare as they board a Blue and Gold fleet boat at the Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 30 of 42

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo: Nicole Fruge, The Chronicle

Image 31 of 42

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo: Nicole Fruge, The Chronicle

Image 32 of 42

Max Hunter rides the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013. A regular BART rider this was his first time on the ferry. less

Max Hunter rides the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013. A regular BART rider this was his first time on the ... more

Photo: Nicole Fruge, The Chronicle

Image 33 of 42

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Passengers ride the ferry from Jack London Square to Ferry Building during the first day of the BART strike in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo: Nicole Fruge, The Chronicle

Image 34 of 42

A BART train is seen stopped on the elevated tracks near the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART management and union leaders with Bay the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 and the SEIU Local 1021failed to reach a contract agreement. less

A BART train is seen stopped on the elevated tracks near the West Oakland Station in Oakland, CA Friday, October 18, 2013.
Bay Area Transit workers went on strike shutting down train service after BART ... more

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

Image 35 of 42

A picket line forms in front of the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and the unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

A picket line forms in front of the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and the unions, workers went on strike at 12 am ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 36 of 42

A picket line forms in front of the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

A picket line forms in front of the BART Lake Merritt station in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 37 of 42

Mallory Taub avoids the morning commute and works from the Spasso Coffee House on College Ave. in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, workers went on strike at 12 am Friday morning and BART service has come to a stop system wide. less

Mallory Taub avoids the morning commute and works from the Spasso Coffee House on College Ave. in Oakland, Calif. on Friday Oct. 18, 2012. After contract talks broke down between BART management and unions, ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Image 38 of 42

BART patrons leave a train at the Lake Merritt station that was one of the last trains to operate out of there early Friday morning before the strike took effect. People involved with negotiations between BART and its unions declared an impasse following nearly 30 hours of negotiations on Thursday, and the unions will strike at midnight. BART negotiations failed to yield an agreement on Thursday, October 17, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. less

BART patrons leave a train at the Lake Merritt station that was one of the last trains to operate out of there early Friday morning before the strike took effect. People involved with negotiations between BART ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Image 39 of 42

BART patron Asa Isles carries his bike up an escalator after he disembarked a train at the Lake Merritt station that was one of the last trains to operate out of there early Friday morning before the strike took effect. People involved with negotiations between BART and its unions declared an impasse following nearly 30 hours of negotiations on Thursday, and the unions will strike at midnight. BART negotiations failed to yield an agreement on Thursday, October 17, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. less

BART patron Asa Isles carries his bike up an escalator after he disembarked a train at the Lake Merritt station that was one of the last trains to operate out of there early Friday morning before the strike ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Image 40 of 42

Richelle Anderson of Hayward watches as BART station agent Edmund Buenger performs his shut down duties at Lake Merritt station early Friday after midnight before the strike begins. People involved with negotiations between BART and its unions declared an impasse following nearly 30 hours of negotiations on Thursday, and the unions will strike at midnight. BART negotiations failed to yield an agreement on Thursday, October 17, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. less

Richelle Anderson of Hayward watches as BART station agent Edmund Buenger performs his shut down duties at Lake Merritt station early Friday after midnight before the strike begins. People involved with ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Image 41 of 42

BART station agent Edmund Buenger does one last inspection of the platform as he performs his shut down duties at Lake Merritt station early Friday after midnight before the strike begins. People involved with negotiations between BART and its unions declared an impasse following nearly 30 hours of negotiations on Thursday, and the unions will strike at midnight. BART negotiations failed to yield an agreement on Thursday, October 17, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. less

BART station agent Edmund Buenger does one last inspection of the platform as he performs his shut down duties at Lake Merritt station early Friday after midnight before the strike begins. People involved with ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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BART labor talks snag on new glitch

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Just when it looked like things couldn't get worse at BART, it turns out the district messed up yet another contract already approved by one of its unions.

This time it involves a cost-saving deal BART negotiated with the unions to change the time needed for new hires to become vested in the retiree medical insurance program. The vesting period would go to 15 years from five years.

The mistake was part of a larger final contract that all three unions had been negotiating since April.

The smaller union's leaders were notified of the typo last week and asked if they would agree to change the date to conform to the other two unions' contracts.

Well, guess what?

"We are not interested," said AFSCME chapter President Patricia Schuchardt, who tells us she ran the request by her board.

The date mistake probably wouldn't result in a big cost to the system - but it would be a big embarrassment.

"It's never-ending," Schuchardt said. "The last eight months have been hell at BART."

BART has already had to return to the bargaining table with its two biggest unions - SEIU and ATU - after discovering that management "mistakenly" included a ground-breaking six weeks of paid family sick leave in their contracts. BART maintains that the sick-leave benefit - although signed by its negotiating team - was the result of a clerical error and never intended to be part of the final contract packet.

The packet was pulled together after days of intense and nearly round-the-clock negotiations designed to end a second BART strike in October. The mistake was not discovered until just before the BART directors were scheduled to give their final approval last month.

BART's board of directors is scheduled to take a final vote on the AFSCME contract Thursday. And while they could vote to accept everything except the vesting provision - as they did with the six-week family leave mistake - Schuchardt said that would be illegal and probably trigger a lawsuit similar to the one the other two unions have filed over BART's attempt to erase the earlier family leave mistake.

Keller, who represents eastern Contra Costa County and who is expected to take over as board president Thursday, said he intends to appoint a committee to look into the district's labor negotiations process.

As for solving the latest snafu, Keller said: "Maybe I'll jump off a building and let someone else figure it out."

Moonlighting: California state Treasurer Bill Lockyer has landed himself a new after-hours job - working with the international law firm of Brown Rudnick.

"He will be a member of the firm's Government Law and Strategies team," Brown Rudnick said in a statement. "Lockyer will remain in office until his term ends in January 2015 and practice law part-time."

It won't be the first time that Lockyer - who earns about $139,000 a year as treasurer - has picked up extra money on the side.

As state Senate president pro tem and later treasurer, Lockyer worked with the East Bay law firm Furtado, Jaspovice and Simons, earning between $10,000 and $100,000 a year.

When Lockyer was attorney general and prohibited from having outside employment, his wife - former Alameda County SupervisorNadia Lockyer - worked for the firm.

The new gig appears to be a bit more global.

"I'm excited to join Brown Rudnick," Lockyer said in the law firm's press release.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of helping my colleagues grow the firm's presence here on the West Coast."

Treasurer's Office spokesman Tom Dresslersaid Lockyer's work with the firm would be to give "strategic advice on matters outside of the state."

Lockyer has had his share of ups and downs in recent years. It was thought he would run for state controller when his term expired in 2015 - but then his wife went into rehab after resigning from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors amid a scandal involving a drug-fueled extramarital affair, and he has announced he's retiring from politics.

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